Category Archives: Trade Rumors

Hemsky, again

It wouldn’t be a trade deadline without banter about Ales Hemsky’s availability. A year ago the rumors were put to bed when Hemsky signed a two-year, $10 million extension. Now his name is surfacing, although almost it seems out of habit in media commentary as opposed to actual signs that the Oilers are shopping him.

Chiarelli told CSNNE.com last weekend that he’s looking for a defenseman as well as a winger to enhance Boston’s roster, and a puck-moving left shot blueliner would be at the top of the list. In a perfect world the defenseman would also serve as the power play quarterback that Tomas Kaberle never was two years ago for Boston on its way to the Stanley Cup.

The perfect name at the top of Boston’s list would be Swiss defenseman Mark Streit, who is entering the final month of his walk year with the New York Islanders as an offensive defenseman. Those within the Isles organization have sent out of the smoke signals that they’re hoping to sign Streit to a contract extension, and they sit only a couple of points out of a playoff spot. Streit has five goals and 16 points along with a minus-14 for the Bruins this season, and six of fellow defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky’s nine points this season have been on the power play.

What the Canucks do have is one too many No. 1 goalies. They will spend the lead-up to April 3 trying to finally close on the long-anticipated Roberto Luongo trade.

It’s time to shut the book on a saga that has drifted on way too long. If they can’t pull the trigger on a Luongo-for-a-centre deal, consider it a failure for an organization that will have one of its best assets sitting on the bench for every playoff game.

Because of all those factors and Iginla’s popularity in Calgary, its believed Feaster is seeking two prospects and a first-round pick for a player that’s set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. A source indicated to CSNNE.com that the Flames are enamored with Bruins 2012 first-round pick Malcolm Subban as an heir apparent to the aging Miikka Kiprusoff in Calgary.

Given that the Bruins were discussing Alex Khokhlachev with the Dallas Stars in exchange for Morrow, a package of Subban, Khokhlachev and a first-round pick is likely in the neighborhood of what Feaster is seeking for Iginla. That’s too rich for Boston’s blood for a rental that will play roughly 10 regular season games plus a playoff run, even if Iginla is a veteran superstar hungering for a Cup that could be exactly what the Bruins are looking for.

The Sportsnet panel of Nick Kypreos and Doug MacLean, both NHL insiders, weighed in on the Edmonton Oilers possibly trading 40-year-old goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, who has a gaudy .927 save percentage in 2013.

“The big guy, obviously, that stands out is Khabibulin,” Kypreos said, when assessing Oilers’ trade prospects. “You don’t want to miss the playoffs and have Khabibulin at the end of the year.”

What kind of package it takes to land Iginla remains to be seen, but with longtime backstop Miikka Kiprusoff nearing the end, the Flames would certainly have keen interest in the B’s top goalie prospect, Malcolm Subban. Other trade bait could include forwards Alexander Khokhlachev and Ryan Spooner, and defensemen Matt Bartkowski, Torey Krug and David Warsofsky.

With Matt Greene (back) and Willie Mitchell (knee), not returning anytime soon, the Kings are looking for a third-pairing defensive defenceman. The Sabres’ unrestricted free agent Robyn Regehr, who played for Darryl Sutter in Calgary, would be ideal. He’d probably cost them a second-round pick. Buffalo also has unrestricted free-agent Jordan Leopold. Leopold and Regehr were partners on the 2004 Stanley Cup finalist Calgary roster. I suppose Sutter might like Calgary’s Cory Sarich, too, but he has another year left on his contract. Calgary GM Jay Feaster sent a Fax to every team saying Sarich is available.